Toy Shop Hands-On

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We try Majesco's new toy.

By Jack DeVries

Every kid wants to own and manage a toy store, right? Oh, wait, every kid wants to live in a toy store! Our bad. Majesco's bad too, since it just let us fulfill every kid's non-fantasy with Toy Shop. GameInvest and Seed Studios have developed a fun game about the un-fun part of toy stores, and the even less fun aspect of your relatives dying.

Hey, so your grandpa is dead. Sucks, we know, but he left you and your sibling this sweet toy shop. Only it's been closed since his death, has no toys in it, and you have to turn the shop around and make $50,000 or else you lose it. Man, your grandpa sucks.

Luckily, you guys make a great pair. One sibling can run the shop while the other builds new toys in the workshop upstairs. So you open the toy shop back up, ready to provide the townspeople with lovingly handcrafted stink bombs and rag dolls.

But don't think that running a toy shop isn't a lot of hard work. Toy Shop is an economic sim at heart, and much of the game is handling inventory to maximize profits. You've got to know how much to charge for a toy, how to advertise it, and when to restock. Each customer has likes and dislikes across the spectrum of toy selections, so you'll have to cater to their wants.

Apparently your grandpa hung out with beach hippies.

As you progress through the game you can build new toys for the customers. Like all crafts this takes a few tries, and perfecting the toy takes multiple attempts. Each toy has a level associated with it and as the level rises, the cost to make it decreases, and the likelihood of success increases.

Newer, shinier toys are more expensive though, so players have to find a balance so they can continue to turn a profit.

The developers have kept the gameplay focused on inventory, so players don't have to take care of bills and property taxes. Nor will they have to pay off the local toy shop mafia. This is a more casual econ-sim with a colorful exterior.

When you're not running the shop, there's also a town to explore. Lots of people knew your grandfather, and really want to tell you about it. They also have tips to help you out, and can provide their services.

The people of the town all have a chibi style, and the game looks similar to EA's MySims from last year. It's adorable and quaint, and makes it hard to tell who is an adult and who is a child.

The veteran simulation fans might not find enough depth with this title, but it could be a way to get people into the genre. It takes baby steps to convert the hardcore-to-be crowd and games like Toy Shop may be the right step to getting people to try genres they would normally pass over.

Toy Shop will be in your local toy store in April. We'll have some screen and videos before it hits stores, so check back.